Fire-extinguishing apparatus.



G. E. BUELL.

FIRE EXTINGUXSHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2,1997.

909,985- Pateuted Jan. 19, 190s),

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6,' E ffmhjm M2/3 Mfr g @kw/fm MMM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES UELL, OF NORTH PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL EXTINGUISH'ER COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Bpecication o! Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

`Application Bled August 2, 1.897. SerialNo. 648,847.

To all whom it my comemf Be it known that/l, CHARLES E. Bumm., of North Plainfield, Somerset county, State of New Jersey, have invented Improvements in Fire-Extiuguishing Apparatus., of which the following is a` specification.

My invention consists in celta/in combinations and subcombinations to be hereinafter described.

In the accompanyi drawin Figure 1 shows a combined ve ve m anism and alarm apparatus with a main valve adapted to automatically admit water to a system of pfiipes when a sprinkler opens, and a sprinkler a `apted to be made operative by the action of heat for carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 shows a modification. Referring to Fig 1 there is shown the main supp pipe leading to a source of water su p y and connecting with the valve S V an through said vabe with the automatically operated main valve for admitting water to the s stem of pipes when a s rinkler is lpened by ieat, comprising the va ve V V an then connecting with the valve R V which is placed intermediate between the said main valve and the main riser R. The main -riser valve R V is not essential to the operation of a system, but is a very oonvement feature in the apparatus when resetting the same. Thel valve S V comprises a valve u for controlling the water-way between the supply main and the sprinkler system, and a valve v' which is adapted to c ose a vent pipe or outlet u o so that when the valve rv is in position to open the waterway between the suppl main and th system, the valve v is he d to close the outlet 'u 0. The object of this arrangement is to adm'it of ventin that part of the valve mechanism locate between the main supply valve S V and the automaticall operated valve V, when the said valve S V is moved to close, or to partly close, the water-way between the source of water supply and the stem of s rinklers. The eiect of venting is part o the apparatus'is to make operative the pressure indicator I by relieving the ressure in the sameand thereby causing its and h to move into contact with the terminalof a wire'q, which is insulated from said indicator forming a part of an electric clr'c'uxt for making operatlve the alarmr app aratus E-oonsistmg of an ordina annunclatorhaving its drop d interlocking with its armature lever a which is adapted to be made operative by the attraction of its armature, thereby releasing the drop d and through the operation of that device to brin into operation the bell or gon B in a we known way. By this means t e opening of a sprinkler by the heat of a lire, or the turning of the main supply valve from its position of fully open, will be denoted by the bringing into action of the alarm apparatus E and ong B. A similar result is provided for if t e valve R V is turned to close the water way, but instead of making o erative a pressure indicator the turning of t e valve stem closes a normally o en branch by allowing sprin e to pass o of the insulatin block g and close the circuit over wire w an the pipes of the system to sound the alarm.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a connectin device for connecting the terminals of a c osed circuitto an ordinary main valve in a manner to reduce an alarm if the valve is turned from its position of being open,A by removing ihe supporting in which holds the spring c in contact wlti the stop c, and by so' doing causes the connected clrcuit to be opened und' a suitable alarm apparatus in connection therewith to indicate and announcethe said closing or partialV closing of the water-wa in said, valve. The pin c* is easily secure to a valve wheel o w by means of a screw threaded pin screwed into a hole inthe said wheel. In the position of open, as shown, the pin forces the sprin c agamst stop c from w lich it is insulated y block b. When now the wheel is turned so that the pin c passes away from under the spring c the alarm is made operative by openin the circuit. It is obvious that with s ight change the closing of a normally open cirl cuit would be effected by the movement of wheel o fw.. With a sup ort s adapted to be bolted on to a 4valve a ready in place, an alarm can be added to such valve mechanisms 'as are now installed. 1

Referring a a main' valve r held to 'normally close the water-way between valve S V and valve R V by`entrap ed water forcin valve V over the outlet in casing C an through valve stem e s, forcing valve V against its in to Fig. 1 there is shown.

seat. The eritrapped water enters the cas` ing C through 1 e m which is located sons to enter mam tween valve SV 'and thev source of water supply, which location is essential to the use of the ap aratus. An automatically operated vent lu has connection between the casing C and the main riser R and consists of a diaphragm in a metal case carrying a plate or valve for normally closing the vent fu when air pressure from the riser enters the metal case, pressin outward the diaphragm. The discharge o the air from the riser by the opening of a sprinkler allows the water pressure 1n the Casin C to be relieved, and the valve V is lifte by the pressure a ainst valve V, and instantly the entrappe water in casing C pours out of the opening 7c which was held closed by valve V. The dischar e of pressure from casing C causes an a arm to be indicated and announced by the removal of pressure on the gage G which, like indicator I, makes o erative an electric circuit over an insulate wire contained in tube t and formed and completed by the pipe t and the metal apparatus comprising` the valvular mechanism and the pipe t. he indicator or glige I acts independent of the gage G, but oth of said ages act to make operative the annunciator and bell connected thereto, the gages serving to denote a distant alarm for each by a visual signal, and a notifying signal common to both is provided by the annunciator and bell. The pressure age G is provided with an insulated stop q t at is a terminal of the insulated wire in the tube t, and the hand on the gage G is the terminal of'the return portion of the electric circuit that includes the alarm apparatus E, and by a lowering of the pressure in casing C the hand hf gage G comes into Contact with the insulated stop and makes operative the alarm. A manna ly operated vent f is rovided for ventingv casin C when it is desired to test e Valves V Without admittin water to Pthe sprinkler pipes or dischar ng air therefrom 5 which 1s readily accomp ished by temporarily closing the valves S V and R V as the vent f3 is o cned. A vent or drip f and f2 can be use with advantage as shown for dripping the system when it becomes desirable to do so. The pipe m2 leads to an air compressor.

By the employment of a pressure indicator and conducting wire or wires Within a tube stoppered to exclude the entrance of water, an apparatus for indicating and announcing the closing of the Water-way from a source of supply to a system of sprinklers is atforded which is not readily reached to be accidentally or purposely put out of order, as the apparatus can be located in the office where it will be protected and the moving part of the indicator, the terminal contact, and the conductors are inclosed; the hand li and contact g being covered by glass and thus `protected so that to displace them the glass must be removed or broken.

Although the wire from indicator I is shown simply by dotted line it is intended to inclose it as a connected conductor to gage G. All conductors for such purpose can be inclos'ed.

The advantages of the combined alarm and valve mechanism are that the valve which controls the Water-way between a sprinkler system and the source of water supply cannot be left closed without the fact being known, due to the continued ringing of the alarm, and the com lete failure of the system thereby avoidedJ a failure which is not uncommon and which can only be prevented from occurring by a detector that is brought into action by the movement of the valve itself from the position of open.

The advantages of such an automatic main valve as is herein shown and described are those of simplicity of construction, the quickness of its operation, the ease of testin the same without discharging the air or fi ling the system with water.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with an automatic sprinkler systein'of the valveV V" consistin of the valve V held to its seat b entra pe Water upon valve V and provi ed wit an automatically operated vent, a valve S V normally open in the water-way between the valve V and the source of water supply, and an electro mechanical alarm apparatus adapted to be made operative by the turning of the i valve S V from a position of open, substantially as set forth.

2; A valve .mechanism comprising the valve controlling the water-way between a source of water supply and a system of automatic s rinklers that is normall open, a thermal y. operated' valve normali closing said wateif-way, alarm apparatus in operative relation to said valves which is ada ted to give an alarm signal by the moving o the first named valve toycl'ose said water-way, and by the moving of the last named valve n o en said water-way, substantially as set ort 3. The combination with the pipes of a sprinkler system of an alarm apparatus having connection through ressure actuated mechanism to the pipes o said system and adapted to produce an alarm when the Xpres'- sure in said pipes is varied by the opening of a s rinlder, a main su ply valve that is norma ly in the position o fully open and is provided with means for making operative the said alarm ap aratus when the said main valve is turne from the position of fully open, substantially as set forth.

4. A sprinkler system, a dry pipe valve normally retaining an air pressure in said system, a main suptpl valve that is normally in the osition of u ly open to admit water to said) system, connections from said 'dry pipe valve and said main supply valve to an electric circuit for making operativey an iso alarm apparatus to denote the openin of a sprinkler and to denote the turnin o said supply valve from the position of fu 1y open, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with an autometie sprinkler system, of a main supply valve normally open, a second valve located between saidunam supply valve and the distributing pipes f the system and arranged to be operated by a reduction of fessure in the system, 10 and means for soun ing an alarm when either of said valves is moved from its nox'- mal position, substantially as set forth.

CHARLS E. BUELL.

Witnesses:

` WM. C. BUELL, A. C. BUELL. 

